Driving lessons to resume in Wales from April 12 – if conditions continue to improve
First minister Mark Drakeford has said driving lessons could resume in Wales from April 12 with driving tests from April 22, if the Coronavirus situation continues to improve.
Driving lessons and all types of driving tests were suspended in Wales when the country moved to alert level 4 in December.
You cannot currently take driving lessons in Wales, people can however practise driving with members of your household or support bubble on local journeys.
During an online Q&A session on Friday, Mark Drakeford said: “I feel very much for people who work as driving instructors.”
“I know they’ve not always been well covered by the help that the UK Government has provided and the UK Government has provided a lot of help, let me say that.”
“We have used our money to try and fill the gaps in their programs, but I know that it hasn’t always worked well or easily for driving instructors who want to be back in work.”
The first minister said: “Today, the DVSA, the organisation that’s responsible for driving lessons and driving tests, has published their plan for the future.”
“Their plan is that the driving lessons could resume from April the 12th and driving tests could resume from April 22nd.”
“We will do now talk to the DVSA and we will talk to the bodies that represent our driving instructors.“
“If the public health position in Wales makes it safe to do so, then we will aim to follow the advice of the DVSA.”
“So that’s lesson starting from the 12th of April, tests from the 22nd of April, but it’s just really important I say this, it will depend on how things are closer to the time.”
📢Update on Wales
Welsh Govt has confirmed that, if the public health conditions remain favourable, from 29 March 2021 in Wales you can take:
✅a CBT
✅motorcycle lessons with instructors
✅a bus driving lesson and test (with the exemption of minibuses)
✅a tractor test1/2
— Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (@DVSAgovuk) March 19, 2021
Mr Drakeford said that at the moment in Wales things are going well, “the numbers of people falling ill with Coronavirus are going down, the percentage of people who go for tests who have Coronavirus is going down, as well.”
“The number of people in hospital with Coronavirus is falling every week, if we can keep that doing, when we come to the 12th April on 22nd April, we’ll be in a good place to fall in with the advice of the DVSA.”
“But if things go in the opposite direction, then of course we will have to think again.” He added.
Dates when driving lessons and tests can restart in Wales, if conditions continue to improve:
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Car driving lessons | 12 April at the earliest |
| Car driving tests | 22 April at the earliest |
| Car and trailer training | 12 April at the earliest |
| Car and trailer driving tests | 12 April at the earliest |
| Motorcycle training | 29 March at the earliest |
| Motorcycle tests | 12 April at the earliest |
| Bus training | 29 March at the earliest |
| Bus driving tests | 29 March at the earliest |
| Lorry training | 12 April at the earliest |
| Lorry driving tests | 12 April at the earliest |
| Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration) tests | 29 March at the earliest |
| Tractor and specialist vehicle training | 29 March at the earliest |
| Tractor and specialist vehicle tests | 29 March at the earliest |
| Driving instructor training | 12 April at the earliest |
| Driving instructor qualifying tests | 22 April at the earliest |
[Image – Reddrivingschool.com]
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